Chieftains Collection: The Very Best of the Claddagh Years, Vol. 2

1	Kerry Slides 3:46
2	The Hunter's Purse 1:43
3	Callaghan's /Byrne's Hornpipe 3:15
4	Round the House and Mind the Dresser 3:30
5	Brian Boru's March 3:15
6	An Mhaighdean Mhara 4:15
7	Ceol Bhriotánach 5:08
8	Drowsy Maggie 4:00
9	Away with Ye 4:50
10	Carolan's Concerto 2:51
11	Cherish the Ladies 2:29
12	Dónall Óg 3:55
13	Ril Mhór 3:25

Barnes & Noble

The Chieftains have been an institution for so long, it's sometimes hard to remember when they were still carving a niche for themselves in the music world before there was "world music." Here the group's founding member, producer, piper, and main mouthpiece, Paddy Moloney, makes a second, terrific selection of favorites from 20 years of their hometown recordings. Nonetheless, it's a grand affair through and through, from his own inimitable introduction to a live recording of "Kerry Slides" through the bodhrán-driven "Round the House and Mind the Dresser" to the barely controlled chaos of their farewell track on the 1989 live set, Ril Mhór. Derek Bell's lush harp strains make a splendid contrast with Moloney's somewhat ornery sounding Uilleann piping on "Ceol Bhriotánach," only to be whirled off by the bodhrán and the others into an irresistible Breton dance tune. But then, this is but a classic Chieftains musical scenario. On "An Mhaighdean Mhara," Michael Turbridy's winsome concertina, shyly coupled with Seán Potts' tin whistle, is suddenly whisked from band member to band member like a wallflower at last discovered at a local dance. These are early Claddagh recordings, so some of their pillars are not yet in place: there's no Matt Molloy on flute, and little in the way of vocals by Kevin Conneff. But there is the indubitable treat of hearing some real-deal lilting, a kind of Irish scat-singing by the old master Pat Kilduff himself. This second collection makes for another emerald preserved for posterity by our trusty old native Irish guides, the Chieftains. Emily King

All Music Guide

When the powers-that-be get around to assembling the second volume of a greatest hits collection, only a few songs often remain to choose from and the rest must be left to filler. Not so with this album, which isn't surprising given the Chieftains' four-decade history of steady musical releases. Like the first volume, this album focuses on the classic era of the Chieftains prior to the noodling that made up albums like Tears of Stone. Two things shine through: superior musicianship and a sense of wit and joy. Some of the best songs include "Drowsy Maggie," "Cherish the Ladies," and "Round the House and Mind the Dresser." ~ Stacia Proefrock, All Music Guide